Suspenders



(No Model.)

. P. C. DODGE.`

SUSPENDERS. l

` Patented Julysl, 1888.

III/T., 8

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PRENTISS O. DODGE, OF BURLINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO THE VILLARD MANUFACTURINGCOMPANY, OF ST. ALBANS, VERMONT.

SUSPENDERS.)

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 387,054, dated July 31,1888. Application filed June 20, 1887. Renewed May l5, 1888. Serial No.273,995. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that l, PRENTIss C. DODGE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Burlington, in the county of Chittenden and State ofVermont, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Suspenders;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exactdescription of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertaius to make and use the same.

The object of the invention is to makea pair of Suspenders with abaclcband or strap out of a single length of the material employed. Forthis purpose a single piece of ordinary webbing, such as is customarilyused in the manufacture of Suspenders, is suitable. Such a piece iscombined with two slotted metallic plates, in the manner hereinafterdescribed, to produce a pairof suspenders with a back-band or strap.This strap is also made adjustable in length, and the rear or backportions of the suspender, which are most liable to be strained, broken,or ripped in the use of Suspenders of the more usual constructiomaremade double, and therefore exceptionally strong and durablc.

Theinvention consists in the means used to effect these objects, whichwill be hereinafter specified, and particularly pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents the improvedSuspenders. Fig. 2 represents a side view of one of the slotted plates,with the webbing in place, but loosened to better exhibit its relationsto the plate, the back-strap 4 being shown in section. Fig. 3 representsa vertical section through the parts indicated in Fig. 2 when dra-wntightly, as in use. Fig. 4 represents a slotted plate, and Fig. 5represents a modification in vertical section.

Theplates used with 1n yim proved suspend ers are made of brass or othermetal, or of any other suitable material,and are preferably of atriangular, or approximately triangular, shape and of a size to allow tobe formed therein slots whose length shall equal the width of thewebbing or other material used for the body of the Suspenders. plate isnot essential, however. The slots, three in number for each' plate, arearranged substantially as indicated in the'drawings.

The triangular shape of the Two of them, marked 2 and 3, are madeparallel to each other and preferably near the edge of the plate and inmanner to leavea narrow bar or strip of metal between them. The third,marked l, is arranged augularly with respect to the direction of theother two and preferably at an angle of forty'tive degrees. Theseexterior slots are made sufficiently wide to allow two thicknesses ofthewebbing to pass through each, as shown. The slot 2 need not be so wide,as it receives but one thickness of the suspender-strap.

In forming suspeuders a single piece of the suspender material is usedand connected with the slotted plates in the following manner: An end ofthe webbing is inserted in slot l and drawn th rough it and then passedback through the farther slot,3,and drawn out to a distance of severalinches. It may now receive a button-loop of any approved variety. Thestrap or webbing is drawn through the loop ifithas been applied andpassed again through slot 3 in a direction opposite to its first passageand then down through slot 2 and under the central part of the plate andup through slot 1. By the angular arrangement of this slot the directionof the strap is changed by bending it back on itself over the edge ofthe slot, and this change of direction is given to that portion whichconstitutes the back-band 4, which continues a short distance to theother plate, to which it is applied in manner similar to that described,but in reverse order. Thus a continuation of the back-band is firstpassed through slot l of the second plate and then bent back upon itselfover the edge ot' the slot and passed under the central part of theplate up through slot 2 and down through slot 3 to a secondbutton-loop,whenceitreturns through slots 3, 2, and l, andis continuedto form the front strap of the Suspenders.

It will be obvious that the plates may be ap plied to thesuspender-strap from each end. Thus each end may be drawn through aslot, l, in a separate plate, being introduced from that side which willbe next the person of the wearer when in use. The plates are then movedon the strap until near its middle, but sufficiently far apart toprovide for a backband ofthe required length. Each end is next passedunder the central portion of its plate IOO up through Slot 2, downthrough slot 3 to the button-loop, then back to slot 3 and through thesaine, and then down through slot 1. The parts being drawn snuglytogether and a front button-hole strap of any desired pattern applied,the pair of Suspenders is completed.

A plate with two slots might be used as follows, (see Fig. 5:) Referringto thela'st abovedeseribed manner of inserting the "Strap ends,they-could each be inserted in slot l from the under side and passedover the central portion of the plate, down through slot 3 to the butlton-hole loop, back up through 3', and down through l, and suchconstruction and arrangement would be within my invention. By thisconstruction a pair of suspender-s eau be provided with a back-strap orcross-piece and madeofonepiecewithoutaseam. As thestrap can be movedthrough the slots in the plate as desired, it is obvious that the lengthof the backband can be readily adjusted, as also the length oftheSuspenders below the back-band. The length of front part of Suspendersin use is made adjustable in any approved manner by means of the frontbutton-hole straps. It will be noticed that below the back-band eachsuspender is doubled and that the loops are securely attached and thatthere are no seams. The whole constitutesavery eeonomical,dura ble, andconvenient article, which avoids the evils of ripping and breakingincident to suspenders as heretofore made, and which admits of anydesired adjustment of the back-strap and of the back ends of theSuspenders, which latter, being the part ordinarily the first to fail inpractical use, are made doubly strong. Suspenders made according to thepresent method will last twice as long as the usual construction, andeven longer. The invention avoids the necessity of skilled labor inmaking, and re- 4o quires but little eXtra material, and no more than isnecessary to make a strong and durable article.

Shoulder straps made of one continuous piece of webbing, suspenderstrapsmade double throughout a portion of their length, adjustable back-bands,and slotted plates for use with Suspenders were known prior to myinvention. Claimsherein areliniited to the matters hereinafterparticularly pointed out, 5o whereby a pair of Suspenders with anadjustable back-Strap, the rear ends of the suspenders being doubled andadjustable, are formed of a piece of webbing combined in a particularmanner with plates, so as to dispense with seams and other connectionsliable to break, rust, or beotherwiseimpaired in ordinary use.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim, and secureby Letters Patent,

l. In a pair of Suspenders, a body and a back-band made of one seamlesspiece of webbing or like material combined with slotted plates,substantially as specified, whereby the length oi the back-band may beadjusted, and buckles and seams are dispensed with.

2. A pair of Suspenders having its body portion and an adjustableback-band all made in one seamless piece, the Suspenders being also madedouble below the back-band and coin- 7o bined with plates and withbutton-loops, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Y PRENTISS C. DODGE.

Vitnesses:

W. P. DILLINGHAM, C. D. RoBiNsoN.

